Melanie Dobson's Where the Trail Ends ~ Reviewed

Where the Trail Ends (American Tapestry)

Melanie Dobson 

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Summerside (October 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1609366859 

 

 

 

 

Description:

 

A young woman traveling the Oregon Trail in 1841 must rely on a stranger to bring her to safety. After losing her parents along the trail to Oregon Country, Samantha Waldron and her young brother, Daniel, must overcome tremendous challenges to reach the Willamette Valley before winter. When their canoe capsizes on the Columbia River, they rely on handsome British exporter Alexander Clarke to escort them to Fort Vancouver. A number of men vie for Samantha’s affections, but the only one who intrigues her is the one she cannot have. When Alex’s betrothed arrives from Britain, Samantha becomes determined to create a home far away from the fort. But when Daniel disappears into the wilderness alone one night, Samantha must rely on the man she loves to rescue her brother before it’s too late.

 

Review:

 

Where the Trail Ends follows Samantha Waldron  as she travels with her family along the Oregon Trail.  Along the way she is separated from her wagon party when her father becomes sick.  When he dies, she is left to take herself and her brother the rest of the way to Willamette Valley before winter.  When they are caught on a river in a rainstorm, they are rescued by British exporter Lord Alexander Clarke.  Though he is promised to another back in England, he finds himself drawn to Samantha.  Samantha is feeling the same way, but knows they can never be together, but doesn’t know what to do about it.                 
This was a really good book.  One thing that interested me was the settlement that Alex Clarke lived at.  It was run by the British, and the British folks were upset that the American s were “immigrating” to their territory.  I never realized that was an issue at that time.  I really enjoyed Samantha’s character.  She was strong and determined and didn’t let the fact that she was a woman hold her back.  She did, however, have to learn to turn things over to the Lord a few times, after realizing she couldn’t handle it on her own.  This was a great read!
 

 

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers